GEORGE TOWN: An Islamic astronomy observatory centre on a hillslope in Pantai Acheh on the northwest of the island looks to be in danger of collapse after a landslide during an intense downpour yesterday morning.
Large boulders were dislodged from the slope housing Pusat Falak Sheikh Tahir, causing the main road to the seaside town of Pantai Acheh to be blocked for a couple of hours.
The landslide also left the building perched precariously on the edge.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman said that while the building was still safe and no one was hurt, the present method of stone pitching to hold up the hill slope had failed which was likely why the slope gave way.
The observatory is used to sight the moon for Hari Raya and for other religious purposes.
She said the Penang mufti’s office was given a proposal and cost estimate to repair the hill slope in 2016 following an expert team led by the public works department (JKR) from Kuala Lumpur, but the funds were never approved.
“We have concerns over the potential ramifications of the landslide and call for urgent scrutiny from the authorities to prevent any untoward incident,” she said in a statement.
Meenakshi said Penang authorities must regularly check all developments on hill slopes given the intense rainfall of late.
Meanwhile, state utilities committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the JKR would repair the slope using retention walls through a tie-back method.
He said the previous stone pitching method to hold back the hill had failed and caused the soil to move. He added that further checks are under way. - FMT
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